Ingrown toenail

An ingrown toenail is a painful condition characterized by the nail digging into the surrounding skin, leading to inflammation and possible infection of the toe. This is a serious condition for people with impaired circulation, diabetes or other systemic diseases. 

Causes:

• Heredity
• Improper nail trimming
• Trauma
• Shoe pressure

What can you do?

• Trim nails straight across as a preventive measure.
• Select the proper shoe style and size.

What might the podiatrist do?

• Perform a physical exam of the foot
• Take an x-ray
• Culture the nail
• Prescribe appropriate medications, such as antibiotics
• Perform surgical correction of the nail when indicated.